Dental treatment planning and management for the mouth cancer patient

SummaryThe need to deliver cancer treatment promptly often requires modification of ideal dental treatment plans. Treatment planning and preventive care is crucial and needs to be done before radiotherapy in order to avoid complications such as osteoradionecrosis. Rapid delivery of this dental care can only be achieved if oral care is given adequate priority in the patient care pathway. Few cancer centres have the resources to provide comprehensive dental care and thus, in most circumstances, this care has to be provided by the patient’s dentist and dental care professional, with advice from the local dental oncology specialist team.